Hey, all! Have I got a treat for you! Romance Gems author Nancy Fraser has joined us today with her new release I DO...AGAIN, a Return to Last Chance Beach novella. I had the good fortune to read this one and Nancy gives you smart writing that pulls you in and flows so smoothly it just carries you on to the end. Truly a pleasure to read! She was nice enough to answer a few questions for me...
That a writer needs to develop a thick skin. And, while you should take your craft seriously, the opinion of others only matter if they control your career (e.g., editor, publisher, agent). If you learn how to handle both criticism and rejection early, it will make your writing journey much easier.
I may or may not still be working on that... ;) That's something that transfers over to everyday life, too. What is something you struggle with when you write?
It may seem trite ... but the writing. I always wonder if my current book will be my last. Will I run out of ideas? Let’s face it, romance follows a formula. There are not that many tropes that haven’t been done to death. As well, if you write in one particular genre, how do you keep from repeating yourself over and over again? That’s probably why I genre jump. It helps me from getting stale and – hopefully – there will be at least one more book in there somewhere.
Where do you live? Where would you love to live?
I live in Atlantic Canada, in New Brunswick, along the beautiful St. John River. If I were going to move, I wouldn’t go far. Just one province over to Nova Scotia, specifically Cape Breton Island. Or ... if I had the money, Las Vegas. Something tells me I’d be broke quickly.
Yes. Always that possibility in Vegas. Share with us a little about your family. Married? Kids? Pets?
I am divorced and, as of this past September, divorced as long as I was married. I’ve been blessed with two wonderful sons who were both smart enough to marry equally wonderful women. Between them, they’ve given me five grandchildren. And, given we live within twenty minutes from the farthest points, we’re very close. As for pets, I have grandpets. One rescue husky, two cats, and four guinea pigs.
Grandpets are the best! What was one of the best Christmas presents you ever received?
That’s easy. Christmas of 1970 (well, a couple days early). My first son. Nothing will ever top that.
What CD is in your CD player right now? Or what was the last song you listened to in your digital library?
Surprisingly, I still have CDs. On both my phone and in CD player, Pentatonix latest album, The Lucky Ones. Of course, I do occasionally swap out the PTX CD for the Elvis 75.
Name your favorite children's story.
I was hooked on the Nancy Drew mysteries growing up. However, as a Grandmother, I have to say Robert Munich’s “Love You Forever”. I’ve read it to all five and I’m moved every time.
It's amazing how many writers were Nancy Drew fans! What is your concept of a fruitful day?
At my age – just waking up. Getting out of bed is a great bonus. Of course, after one or two cups of coffee, my writing day begins. At that point, it’s all about the words. I write full time, Monday through Friday, three weeks of every month. My goal is always 3-5K, depending on the complexity of the book. In the fourth week, I do extensive edits and catch up on other tasks. Weekends are split between family and updating my website and blog.
That sounds like a great schedule! Thanks for sharing yourself with us. Now let's share a little bit about I DO...AGAIN...
Blurb ~
Thirty-five years earlier, Lily Abbott and Mitch Colby exchanged wedding vows in a quaint ceremony attended by a small crowd consisting of four Micronauts, a one-eyed pet rock, two special-edition Barbies, and an assortment of stuffed animals. Officiated by Stretch Armstrong, it was the social event of their 8th summer.
Lily never forgot the childhood ceremony.
Or the fact her best friend and first love had left her behind and relocated to
Boston to pursue an Ivy-League education. Now a divorcee, with college-bound
twin daughters, Lily’s moved on and put the foolishness of first crushes and
the childish dream of true love behind her.
At eighteen, Mitch had never wanted the
expensive education his father mapped out for him. He’d have been perfectly
happy to stay in Summerville, marry the love of his life, and settle down.
However, when push came to shove, he’d not wanted to upset his ailing mother,
and had left everything...and everyone...that he’d wanted behind.
The 25th reunion of the
graduating class of Summerville High has brought Lily and Mitch back together
at The Sands, a seaside resort on Last Chance Beach. Will one
weekend together be enough? Or, is there a possibility for more?
Excerpt ~
The soles of her sandals skittering across the wet surface, Lily Abbott landed on the weather-worn dock with a loud thump, her backside slapping against the damp slats in the same way a fish flops around on the ground after being pulled from the lake.
So much for a graceful entry.
She glanced from side-to-side, wondering if any of her former classmates had seen her awkward faux pas. Gracie Potts and Shep Warren stood off to the side, more engrossed in each other than those around them. Ellie Cabot was stoking the campfire, poking at it with angry jabs and then letting loose a string of curse words when the embers jabbed back.
At least half of the varsity football team were huddled around two well-stocked coolers, chugging beers and laughing about past victories.
Off in the distance, laughter, mixed with strains of Meatloaf’s I’d Do Anything for Love, floated across the warm night air from the hotel’s patio. Nostalgic music from their senior year...as if time could be turned back, memories either revived or erased.
Settling more comfortably on the edge of the dock, Lily removed her sandals, and dangled her legs over the side, her toes flirting with the water. Closing her eyes, she welcomed the breeze wafting across her face.
“So, this is where you’ve been hiding.”
Lily startled at the sound of the deep, male voice. She didn’t need to look to know who was speaking. The intervening years weren’t nearly long enough to wipe away the familiar sound.
“I’m not hiding,” she insisted. “I’m relaxing.”
“If you say so,” he countered, the sarcastic tone of his comeback sinking into her senses.
Mitch Colby. Her best friend, her first love, the one that got away. Or, more precisely, the one who left her behind.
“I didn’t expect to see you here,” she said truthfully.
Turning slightly and tilting her head, she met his gaze, then wished she hadn’t. He smiled down at her, his familiar smirk ratcheting up her heart rate. As her late Aunt Ethel had once observed, ‘The good Lord had surely taken his sweet time with Mitchell Colby’. Twenty-five years hadn’t altered Ethel’s keen observation one iota. He was still a breathtakingly handsome man.
NANCY FRASER—Jumping Across Romance Genres with Gleeful
Abandon—is an Amazon Top 100 and Award-Winning author who can’t seem to
decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.
Like
most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age, usually on the walls and
with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her love of writing often
made her the English teacher’s pet which, of course, resulted in a whole lot of
teasing. Still, it was worth it.
Published
in multiple genres, Nancy currently writes for four publishers. She has
published over thirty books in full-length, novella, and short format.
When
not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful
grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits.
Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful
people.
Find Nancy Fraser
Online
Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter
~ Bookbub
Amazon Author Page ~ Goodreads
~ Pinterest
~ YouTube
To purchase I DO...AGAIN:
Universal link ~
Thanks for sharing yourself with us here today, Nancy!
